The Expensive Gossip

Spurs to offer cash plus Townsend for Schneiderlin, Newcastle want Chelsea's Bamford, Liverpool in for Kovacic...

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Real COULD offer Bale for Hazard, Man City to offer £30m for Wilshere and Arsenal to move for Barcelona's Pedro.

SCHNEIDERLIN FOR CASH + TOWNSENDTo the Evening Standard, who claim Tottenham are confident of landing Morgan Schneiderlin from Southampton this summer. They report that the fee would be around £20m, which is a bloody steal if you ask us.

However, this is not as simple as a simple £20m bid. With Mauricio Pochettino aiming to trim the fat from his Tottenham squad, the Standard say that Spurs would be looking to add a player or two into the deal in order to reduce the fee.

The two players mentioned are Benjamin Stambouli and Andros Townsend, who have started a combined 14 matches in the Premier League this season. That's the same number they started in the Europa League, which gives you an indication of their place in the White Hart Lane hierarchy.

If Spurs manage to get Schneiderlin for £10m plus Townsend, they should organise street parties to celebrate the steal.


NEWCASTLE WANT BAMFORDPatrick Bamford is officially hot property. Despite never having played a top-flight match, the striker's goals in the Championship since moving from Nottingham Forest to Chelsea make him the Next Big Thing in the eyes of most casual observers.

Bamford himself has stated his desire to return to Chelsea next season, but his parent club are understood to be keen on letting him join a Premier League club on loan if he is guaranteed regular first-team football.

The Daily Mail report that Newcastle are the favourites to sign Bamford, after being knocked back in their attempt to sign Manchester United's James Wilson on loan for next season. Bamford is used to the north east after scoring 19 league goals for Middlesbrough this season.


LIVERPOOL IN RACE FOR KOVACICFirst things first: Mateo Kovacic is a little dreamboat, and we would be delighted to see him in the Premier League.

The Croatia international is expected to leave Internazionale this summer. Inter have gone downhill rapidly, and Roberto Mancini seems intent on spending all of his summer pocket money on Yaya Toure. It's an old-fashioned tale of romance.

Reports suggested that Arsenal were interested in signing Kovacic, but the Daily Express (via Tuttomercatoweb, natch) claim that the playmaker would prefer a move to Liverpool or Barcelona. Those are two clubs in very different situations.

Worth pointing out that Barcelona have a transfer ban until next January, which might help Liverpool's cause.


AND THE RESTBurton manager Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink admits that he could lead the Brewers to the League Two title and quit if a big club comes in for him...Tottenham will listen to offers for their £30million record singing Erik Lamela...Premier League new boys Bournemouth are bracing themselves for a battle to hang on to £12million Callum Wilson - with half of the top flight chasing the striker...Patrick Vieira is in the frame for the manager's job at Marseille next season...Promoted Bournemouth aim to make Birmingham starlet Demarai Gray their first signing for the top flight in a £5.5million deal...West Brom are on the trail of Michail Antonio...Newcastle are weighing up a move for highly-rated Rayo Vallecano coach Paco Jemez...Manchester United midfielder Andreas Pereira is ready to reject Paris Saint-Germain and sign a new contract with the club...Carles Gil is poised to hold talks with Tim Sherwood over his future as his move to Aston Villa threatens to turn into a nightmare.